Typically, before any new pesticide can be sold in the US, it must go through a lengthy registration and review process by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The applicable legislation is the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). This federal law guides pesticide regulation to ensure the safety of consumers and the environment. To be an EPA registered pesticide, it must be shown that use of the product according to specifications “will not generally cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment.” Following pesticide registration, it is strictly regulated and has restrictions on use(s), application rate(s), crop(s) and other aspects.
However, research has shown that many natural pest control products contain ingredients that are generally recognized as safe (GRAS). Therefore, the EPA developed a list of active and inert ingredients that pose minimum risk, exempting them from the registration requirement. If a product only contains components on the active and inert ingredients and conforms to other additional requirements of section 25(b) of FIFRA, it is considered a minimum-risk FIFRA 25(b) pesticide and exempt from federal registration. Most states, however, have their own statutes and regulations regarding pesticides, and FIFRA 25(b) products are required to be reviewed and registered in each state in which they are sold.
The new AEA product Pinion™ satisfies the conditions for a minimum-risk FIFRA 25(b) pesticide and is exempt from federal registration. The states where registration is not required, and therefore, Pinion can immediately be sold are as follows:
- California
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- New Jersey
- New York
- Tennessee
- Texas
Registration in those states that require it is ongoing.
